Singers Jed Madela and Aria Clemente, the Philippines’ Grand Champion Performers of the World in the World Championships of Performing Arts (WCOPA) are performing at the 2008 opening ceremony at the Universal CityWalk in Hollywood and at the finals night at the grand ballroom of the Westin Bonaventura in downtown Los Angeles.

Also known as the Hollywood Olympics, WCOPA opens on July 25. The international talent search gathers together delegates from more than 40 countries to compete in a talent search organized by Hollywood and Broadway producers.

Madela, who won the Grand Champion Vocalist of the Year title in 2005, will sing “Go the Distance” from the Disney animated film Hercules during WCOPA’s opening ceremony. He will also be sitting as a judge during the preliminary and semifinal rounds of the weeklong competition.

Madela will also be singing “You’ll Never Walk Alone” on finals night. In addition, he will welcome the new 2008 WCOPA Grand Champion Performers of the World with the song “We Are the Champions.” His version is re-arranged by Filipino composer Arnel de Pano especially for WCOPA.

Meanwhile, 2007 Grand Champion Vocalist of the World Clemente will perform songs from her newly released album, Sing Like a World Champion Performer, during the opening and closing ceremonies. Her album, produced by Stages and ABS-CBN, will also be sold at the event.

Together with Jed and Aria in Hollywood are the members of 2008 WCOPA Team Philippines:  Junior vocalists Catherine Loria, Cherry Palad, Glee Nette Gaddi, Rachel Razon, the Sison Brothers (Marek, Enzo, Ruiz), and Tippy dos Santos; and senior vocalists CJ Concepcion, Dex de Rosa, Abe Dorado, King, Marielle Corpuz, Panky Trinidad, and Paolo Ledesma.

Carlo Orosa and Oliver Oliveros of Stages have been working as directors of the WCOPA Team Philippines since last year.

This is the fourth time the Philippines will be sending a delegation of performers to compete in the “Hollywood Olympics.”  Since the Philippines joined WCOPA, four Filipino performers have won the “Grand Champion Vocalist of the World” title:  Jed Madela in 2005, the Cercado Sisters in 2006, and Reymond Sajor and Aria Clemente in 2007.  Jed and Aria also bagged WCOPA’s highest honors, the Senior and Junior Grand Champion Performer of the World titles, respectively.

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